Books by Ian Rogers
Books by Ian Rogers
Lying outstretched, [Jenny] edged forward on fingers and toes. She twisted onto her back and filth dripped into her eyes. Blinking it away, she looked at thes piece of twisted metal that was causing the problem. She put the candle in her mouth so she could use both hands. She held onto the chain with one hand and worked the rusted object out of the links with the other.
“There!” she said, out of the side of her mouth, as it came away. “Here Bantam.” She threw it back.
“Ow,” he said. He threw it out of the hatch.
“Ow,” said Eggstravert, who was looking in.
“Can you get the chain back on?” asked Bantam.
Jenny grunted. “I’m trying,” she said. “I need a screwdriver or something.”
“She needs a screwdriver,” Bantam shouted back.
After a short delay, Eggstravert brought one and tossed it in, handle first.
“Ow,” said Bantam. “Here you go, Jenny.” He lobbed it gently towards her.
“Twerp!” said Jenny. “It’s fallen short and my arms are over my head.” She edged back a bit.
“Ow,” said Bantam. “Your foot’s in my face.”
“Do it good,” said Jenny.
“Get on with it,” called Eggstravert.
Jenny picked up the screwdriver and edged forwards again.
“Ow!” she said as hot candle wax dribbled onto her face. “Phoo!” She spat out the candle and put a dob of cold slime on the burn. The fallen candle went out with a hiss.
“Bother,” said Jenny. “Bantam - canyou get a stick from Eggstravert so you can hold the lantern nearer?”
She waited, wondering whether she’d faint from being enclosed in the hot, smelly darkness. Bantam crawled away and came back with the lantern tied to a spinnaker pole. By it wobbly light, Jenny stretched up and pushed some chain onto the teeth of the king pinion cog. She held it while she poked the screwdriver under the chain and levered upwards with the other.
The chain would not move…
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